Instructors

DRAGAN KONJEVIC

Head Instructor, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3rd Degree Black Belt

Dragan started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when it was just pioneering in Canada. He started in the mid 90s, however before that he trained any other martial arts he could get his hands on such as; kickboxing, Tae Kwon Do, Judo and Sambo. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been his passion since 1996, where he has been the official representative for many years of Alliance BJJ Team which is the best team in the world for five years in a row (2008-2012). This allowed him to learn from some of the best grapplers on the planet such as; Marcelo Garcia, Charles Rubens Cobrina, and Fabio Gurgel as well as many others.

Dragan’s passion and dedication for this sport and teaching, and his ability to transfer this knowledge to others has allowed him to create a strong and respectable competitive team. His team has achieved awards ranging from Provincial champions to World Level Abu Dhabi competition silver medal and bronze medal, and many other medals.

Dragan’s Numerous Achievements:

In 2002, He was the first one to establish the first ever Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club in the Region of Waterloo

Received his black belt in 2007 and third degree black belt in September 2016 from Alliance BJJ Head Instructor Romero Jacare Cavalcanti

Created a high level, respectable and competitive team whose members are constantly competing and winning

Conducted ground-defense seminars for various police services in Ontario

Conducted seminars for university special constables and various security agencies

Established Alliance teams in parts of Europe

Founder of the Blue-Jitsu Law Enforcement Self-Defense Training Program

Dragan’s Recognition for Improving the Safety of Law Enforcement with Blue-Jitsu

Assistant Instructor

ERIC YU, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt

Once upon a time there lived a little boy with his mother and father and sister and little brother in a tiny hut in the woods. His father was a wicked man, and a judo black belt at that. The boy was beaten and wrestled mercilessly. The worst torture was the “Eagles Claw”, which his father could summon at will. But this only served to toughen him to the rigors of bloody combat.

Years passed, and the boy became a man (allegedly). On his travels he met a wizened old man who took him in and trained him in the ways of an ancient form of jungle warfare, sometimes called “Voodoo Wrestling”. Armed with judo scars and this mysterious new power, the man-boy set out to conquer evil and restore freedom to the good creatures of the forest.

Okay, I give. They’re all lies. Well, not entirely, as there is a truth hidden somewhere in that boy’s life. While writing the profiles of the other instructors I knew I would end up here; writing my own. It’s an awkward thing writing about yourself, especially in the third person, so that’s not the approach I’ll take.

I’ve been practicing BJJ since 2002, though it’s been on my mind since UFC 2. In February 2006 Jacare awarded me the rank of purple belt and two weeks later I went on to win the Arnold’s at that level. I owe most of what I have in this sport to Jeff, Rick, PJ and especially Dragan, who has been my master, Jedi-esque in magnitude. I hold no ill will to my father for putting me in judo as a kid and kicking my ass. Thanks Dad.

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